"Skin-Deep"

They horseback sit and never quit,

Though cold winds howl and blow,

To try to find the wild bovine,

And bring ‘em back you know.

And some will say a sorrel or bay,

Is what they want to ride,

Leave home ol’ paint ‘cause safe he ain’t,

Though buckskins are their pride.

Blue roans or red that’s what he said,

A gray might have to do,

It’s funny, see, what all should be,

They say it like it’s true.

But in the end they can’t pretend,

That color is the rule,

‘Cause its skin-deep and what you keep,

Is a cowy, travelin’ fool.

And gentle, too, enough to do,

All the work you plan,

When you step on, get up and gone,

A saddle partner, man.

So if you care how well you fare,

Find one that’s right for you,

A-horseback go and then you’ll know,

That you’ll be out there, too.

“The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, bu the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16: 7b, NLT)

When Samuel was sent by the Lord to anoint a new king he was impressed with Jesse’s son, Eliab. But he was not the one the Lord had chosen to be king. And that is why the Lord said that He did not look on the outward appearance bur rather on the heart. David was chosen because he was a man after God’s own heart. In other words what and who we are inside trumps how we appear on the outside. Much later Jesus would characterize the Pharisees as white-washed tombs that were outwardly beautiful but inwardly filled with corruption. God transforms people from the inside out and uses those whose hearts are in sync with Him.

Lord, help us get our hearts right, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Jason Rich, used by permission. Thanks, Jason, and God bless you.